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J. A. TRIMBLE. SIGNAL LIGHT FOR STREET (JARS.

Patented Jan. 16, 1894.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

SIGNAL LIGHT FOR STREET CARS.

Patented Jan. 16, 1894.

WITNESSES.

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INVENTOH Mam JAMES A. TRIM BLE, OF NEW YORK, N. .Y.

SIGNAL-LIG HT FOR STREET-CARS.

"SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 512,921, dated January16, 1894. Application filed December 7,1892. Serial No. 454,341- (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES A. TRIMBLE, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal-Lightsfor Street-Cars, of which the followingis a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in signal lights for street carsand particularly to the means for changing the signal lights therefor.

It is well known that street cars carry at their ends a colored signallight by which the difierent lines of cars are designated and thatWhenever it is desired to shift a car'from one line to another it isnecessary to change the light in order to avoid confusion. Muchdifficulty has heretofore been experienced in providing suitable meansfor quickly changing the signal light of streetcars, and variousattempts have been made to facilitate this operation. In accordance withthe present invention I dispense entirely with the necessity for theconductor to carry extra-colored bulls eyes with him in order to changethe signal, and provide means always present inthe car by which thesignal light may be instantly changed without inconvenience.

My invention involves the construction and use of a sliding framearranged in line with the usual signal aperture in a car and carrying aseries of two or more panes of differently colored glass, adapted, uponthe sliding of said frame, to be successively brought into line withsaid aperture, and thus change the signal.

My invention also involves devices for operating said sliding frame, andmaintaining the same in its various positions, as hereinafter more fullydescribed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an exterior end viewlooking at one corner of a street car provided with the featuresconstituting the invention sought to be protected hereby. Fig. 2 is alike view of same looking at the end of the car from the interiorthereof, a portion of the car being shown in section. Fig. 3 is avertical section of same on the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig.- 4 is anenlarged detached plan view of the features constituting the presentinvention,

the outer facing of the car being removed to fully disclose the interiormechanism, and Fig. 5 is a like view of same, the mechanism beingillustrated in an opposite position to that shown in Fig. 4.

1 In the drawings A designates the end of the car having the outerfacing B, in which is formed at a suitable point the aperture 0 coveredby a piece of transparent glass D. Adjacent to the facing B is providedthe partition E, shown more clearly in Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive, in whichpartition is provided the aperture F, the latter being in line with theaperture 0 provided in the. outer facing B, and adjacent to thepartition E is suitably supported a lamp G, which will be within the carand have its flame or light in line with the apertures O, F. The lamp Gwill preferably be supported upon a bracket Hand inclosed beneath thehood or covering 1.

Between the outer facing B and the partition E are contained the deviceswhich constitute the present invention, and these are more clearlyillustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, in which J designates a rectangular framehaving inclosed within its four sides the series of two or more panes ofglass K, L, differently colored, one being, asa matter of illustration,green and the other red. The vertical sides M of the frame J extendupward and contain the apertures N through which is placed the rod 0whose ends are secured in the cleats P.

.The cleats P are firmly secured to the partition E and they serve notonly to support the rod 0 but to afford stops for the frame J when thelatter is moved on the said rod. Beneath the frame J is secured to thepartition'E the cleat Q, which as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, overlaps thelower edge of the frameJ and serves as a support for the same, and as ameans for preserving said frame in proper relation to the vertical faceof the partition E. The frame J is adapted to have a sliding orreciprocating movement on the rod 0 and cleat Q, thereby to bring eitherthe red or the green light in line with the openings 0, F, as may bedesired, and for the purpose of eifecting the proper reciprocation ofthe frame J, I pro vide within the car the rosette or knob R having aspindle extending through the partition of the connecting rod T, thelatter being pivotally secured at each end. The complete operation ofthe frame J knob R, crank S and connecting rod T may be understood by aref erence to Figs. 4 and 5 in which the frame J is shown in its twopositions.

In Fig. 4 the arrangement of the parts may be considered, forillustration, as bringing the green pane of glass K in line with thelamp G and openings C, F, and in Fig. 5 the parts may be likewiseconsidered as having been changed in position for the purpose ofshielding the green pane of glass K and bringing the red pane ,of glassL in line with the lamp Grand openings 0, F. In order to shift the frameJ and thus change the signal it is simply necessary to turn the knob B,when the arm S and rod T will either draw the green glass K from theapertures O, F, and bring the red glass L in line therewith, as shown inFig. 5, or move the red glass L from the apertures C, F, and push thegreen glass in line therewith as illustrated in Fig. 4. hen the frame Jis at one end of its line of travel it will meet one of the stops P andbe supported by the rod 0 and cleat Q as illustrated in Fig. 4;, andwhen moved to the other end of itsline of travel it will meet the otherstop P and likewise be supported by the rod 0 and cleat Q. It will thusbe observed that the frame J is firmly supported at all times so as toprevent any rattling or undue looseness of the parts, and that the stopswill prevent the same from being moved too far in either direction.

The knob or rosette R is the only feature of the construction which isdisclosed at the inner side of the car, and this may be ornamental inconfiguration, so as not to detract from the appearance of the car orform an objection. By thus having the sliding frame carrying thedifierent colored glasses between the outer facing B and the innerpartition E there will be no necessity for the conductor or drivercarrying diiferent colored bulls eyes to apply to the aperture 0 and noinconvenience will be experienced in quickly changing the signals. Theaperture 0 will be covered by the clear glass D and will require noattention whatever, in so far as the changing of the signal isconcerned, and on the vertical face of the partition E within the carwill be arranged a mirror W which will extend from the bracket H to thehood I, as illustrated in Fig. 3, while that portion of the mirrorcovering the aperture F will be left transparent. Thus the mirror willserve as a reflector and the light from the lamp G will be enabled topass through the aperture F, the colored glass in the frame J and clearglass in the aperture 0.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The car having in its ends the facing B and partition E providedrespectively with the apertures C, F, in line with the flame of thelamp, in combination with the reciprocating frame J between thepartition and facing and having a series of difierently colored panes ofglass, the horizontal rotatable spindle having the knob connectedthereto and arranged adjacent to the wall of the car, the oscillatoryarm connected to said rotatable spindle, and the rod connecting said armto the reciproeating frame, whereby the frame is reciprocated byrotating said spindle, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The car having in its end the signal aperture 0, combined with thereciprocating frame J containing the series of dififerently coloredpanes of glass, the rod 0 supporting said frame, the stops P, P, at eachend of the line of travel of said frame, the cleat Q at the lower edgeof said frame, and mechanism for sliding said frame to change thesignal; substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 3d day of December, A. D. 1892.

JAMES A. TRIMBLE.

Witnesses:

CHAS. C. GILL, ED. 1). MILLER.

